This year for Halloween Anna is going to be a pink fairy. Or, as she will specify: "a pink fairy with not pink hair." When we came up with this idea I browsed etsy for a while, drooling at all the beautiful tutus you can find there. But after weighing the price tag ($20-$30) into my halloween costume budget I thought, "I could probably make one of these."
So I searched online and found a few basic tutorials and discovered it was oh so doable.
First, get your tulle. I love love love these 6 inch spools from Papermart. They make this project so much easier than if you purchase tulle on a bolt from a fabric store . . . . no cutting your tulle into long strips and no worrying about getting your lines straight. Six inches ends up being the perfect width for this project and at $1.89 for a 25 yard spool I call this a steal. Plus, it's fun to keep several colors on hand to add a quick, pretty bow to gifts, neighbor treats, pretty much anything.
You'll need some elastic. I used 1/2 inch for Anna's tutu and 1 inch for mine. The 1/2 inch was easier to work with. Measure your subject's waist and then trim a couple inches from that number. This is essential as the elastic will stretch out as you are tying your tulle onto it. Machine or hand stitch the ends of your elastic together.
Cut your tulle. I cut my strips 32 inches long, but you can always go shorter, or longer. Just keep in mind that your strips will be folded in half in the final project.
Start tying. This link has some good step by step photos. They say that you shouldn't tighten your tulle until the end, but I like to do it as I go along. Basically, just keep tying until the elastic is covered. And make sure you are consistent in how you tie it on. I had to remove a few, or 10, when I wasn't paying attention.
Embellish. This is the optional (fun) step. I tied on 2 strands of ribbon and hot glued a peony flower we had lying around the house. And for fun I put a flower on her fairy wings as well to complete the "flower fairy" ensemble.
(all dressed and ready for a ballet Halloween party)
Project details:
purchased 3 spools of tulle (and I didn't even use them up)
elastic from my sewing stash
flowers & ribbon on hand
Final cost of project: $5.67
